Truss Types

Last updated April 1, 2015

Multiple Kingpost. With odd number of panels, the center panel is open or has crossed braces as shown by the dashed lines.

Figure 3.

Town Lattice, disposition illustrated on 1820 patent drawing shown (only two chords indicated thereupon; one at the top and one at the bottom of the truss.) For railroads and many highways, two secondary chords were made use of for additional strength.

Figure 4.

Burr Arch. A multiple Kingpost truss with one or two arches added on inside and outside. Ends of the arch extend below the lower chord and rest on the abutments.

Figure 5.

Arch, tied (shown), or two hinged (not illustrated), the latter where the ends of the arch are seated on the faces of the abutments, the present drawing indicating various arrangements of suspension: verticals, diagonals, and crossed X bracing.

Figure 6.

Long, with 3 wood diagonals and double timber posts in each panel.

Figure 7.

Paddleford. Ends of counterbraces cross both the kingposts and the chords. An inside arch is often added.

Figure 8.

Howe, usual type. Three wood diagonals and 2 or 3 iron rod verticals.

Figure 9.

Howe, single type. Dashed lines are iron rods.

Figure 10.

Howe, western type. Center panel sometimes open.

Figure 11.

Haupt, 1839 patent. One remaining example: the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge in Catawba County, North Carolina.

Figure 12.

Warren. Single system is in solid lines, double system with added timbers indicated by dashed lines.